New airport opens in Wyoming

Hot Springs County Airport (HSG) in Wyoming will officially open Nov. 7 about 10 miles northwest of Thermopolis. The new airport replaces the Hot Springs-Thermopolis Municipal Airport (THP).

“The replacement of the airport is a significant improvement to aviation safety in this part of Wyoming,” said Dennis Byrne, administrator of the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Division. “The replacement airport site is well equipped to support air transportation and economic development and will continue to provide critical access to the community for medical specialists, tourists and various businesses for many years to come.”

Officials began planning the new $22 million airport in the 1980s and broke ground in 2012.

In planning for the new airport, the county bought 482 acres of property, which will enable extension of the 6,370-by-75-foot Runway 5/23 to 7,700 feet without additional land acquisitions. The airport is scheduled to have LPV instrument approaches, which are to be commissioned in 2016. Until then, visual operations will be used. There will be roughly a dozen aircraft based at the new airport.

The runway and its full parallel taxiway will be lighted, and the airport will have an an automated weather observing system (AWOS).

A 4,200-square-foot terminal with public areas, restrooms, a pilots’ lounge, garages for airport equipment, as well as an 80-by-80-foot hangar now stands next to the 200,000-square-foot ramp.

The county has signed leases for eight more hangars and is finalizing the FBO contract for fuel, maintenance and airport upkeep. Until the 10,000-gallon self-serve Jet A and avgas tanks are installed in early 2016, the county will truck avgas in from the old airport.

Be a better informed pilot.

Join over 110,000 readers each month and get real-world news and information direct to your inbox, each day.

About General Aviation News Staff

Comments

With Worland being 40 miles to the north and it’s beautiful airport and Riverton 45 miles to the west, and it’s freshly renovated main run way, and Cody with its great airport and essential air service facilities to the north west about 45 miles, I fail to see the need for this expenditure. I will be surprised if there were more than a dozen GA planes there ever.